The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-02
VOL. XXII.-NO. 24.

ing occupation, and was quickly repaid
} At Densford my glance was riveted as if,
by magnetism, upon a man who answered
almost exactly to the word-picture given
from 0swald's lips in the columns Of the
Daily SIN. There were the ponderous
features, the coal-black hair and scanty
beard, the nose of distinctly Israelitish cast.
drew down my veil, and oblivious of
my luggage and its fate, of everything save
the imperative necessity of tracking the
apparently unperturbed stranger, left my
compartment also. 1t was neither long
nor difficult pursuit, or might have be-
trayed my purpose. My quarry entered
third-rate inn at the bottom Of the station
hill; and as he was accompanied by porter
with bag, who left the latter behind as
he reappeared from the side door of the bar,
l had good grounds for my hope that stay
was intended. l sought out the Densford
Postofiee, and despatched a telegram to
my uncle.
felt | had stumbled upon the trail of
the real criminal in that dreadful business
of the forgery; or rather should say Grim
inals, for as the sequel showed, the guilt
was equally divided.
In she afternoon my uncle arrived, lis
tened with amazement to my startling story,
and adopted bold measures. On the
strength of his cogent representations,
magisterial warrant was granted and
armed with this, the Densford inspector of
police arrested the man called Edgar Hol-
linsworth.
Discounted and demoralized by the swift
suddsnness of the blow, the victim threw
himself on the clemency of the magistrate,
in other words made full confession. 1t
was disclosure full of pain for the upright
merchant whose trust had been abused.
Again will try to condense an intricate
narrative. James Hollinsworth, my
uncle's senior clerk and cashier, had al
lowed to grow up in his heart jealous
hatred of Oswald Wardour He feared
that in due time Oswald might step above
him into the partnership at which for so
many years he-Hollinsworth-had aimed
Hollinsworth had scapegrace brother call
ed Edgar, long accounted dead, who had
reappeared in one of these evil iunctures
which are the touchstones of mems charac-
ters. He had visited my uncle's clerk in
the Office at an hour when Oswald was
away at the docks, and had tried to levy
blackmail. Taen came the temptation, 30
which his elder and hitherto outwardly vir-
taous brother had succumbed Could not
Oswald Wardour's need of e200 be made
the basis of plot to ruin him? James
Hollinsworth told his ally what was re-
quired, and purchased at heavy price his
assistance. How the scheme worked has
already been made plain.
1t was a singular coincidence, and one
which did not rebound to the mans credit,
that under pressure of these revelations,
waiter at Torleni's restaurant had his mem-
ory quickened and was prepared to testify
to the occurrence within his masters pre-
cincts of the interview between Edgar Hol-
linsworth and Oswald Wardour, as related
in Oswald's earliest statement My uncle
always believes that this waiter had been
bribed to silence
1t proved impossible to hush up the
affair, and a sentence of penal servitude was
passed upon both the brothers.
"And you saved me, Miss Craig" 0s-
wald said, when, for few precious minutes
on the morrow of his release, we were alone.
"But for you / might be in yonder cell
yet ;" and he shuddered aMiss Craig
Bertha-is my guess right one-that you
care-that at least you can care--for me
little, when l tell you that my heart, my
life, are yours ?"
Oswald will have it that | was too ex-
cited to know exactly in what terms he did
reveal the secret which was no secret; but
stand to what have written. At least
l am correct in reporting my answer: II
can care-everything," l murmured,
A few months after, the one remaining
mystery was solved, Coal had been dis
covered on 0swald's "barren acres" in the
north. Itwas for purposes of experiments,
in which he was sworn to secrecy, that he
had required the loan of the e200 But
even without the prospect of this wealth,
my uncle would now have Withdrawn his
his opposition to Oswald as my suitor.
"Your love, child, has been tried in adver-
sity; may it be the stronger and more last
ing" he said.
We are grateful and contented,
-